Henry Burris so badly wanted to live the fairy-tale Saturday night on his latest return to McMahon Stadium.

As the starting quarterback of an expansion franchise, Burris envisioned an upset of monumental proportions in the city he called home for more than a decade.

No dice. The Calgary Stampeders methodically took care of business in a so-called trap game and pounded the Ottawa RedBlacks 38-17 before an announced crowd of 28,391.

The revenge fantasy — that first victory for Burris since the trade to Hamilton from Calgary that rocked his world after the 2011 season — must wait for another day.

“I’m just ready to start winning — period,” a hoarse Burris said post-game as several of his former mates, including linebacker Keon Raymond, stopped by to wish him well. “It’s one of those things where this would have been a big win, especially on the road.

“Calgary gave us a couple of opportunities. They gave us some turnovers there. They gave us the opportunity to bounce back, and we didn’t take advantage of the opportunities.

“That’s what winning teams do.”

As it stands, the Stampeders (5-1) are a winning team. The RedBlacks (1-5) are not. And, on this night, Calgary simply schooled an Ottawa club enduring a rocky start to life in the CFL.

“We shot ourselves in the foot, and it’s the same thing week after week,” said Burris, who went 20-for-29 for 281 yards, one touchdown and two interceptions. “It’s got to stop at some point. I know all that stuff about the fact we’ve got young guys, but we’ve got professional players on this team. We’ve got to get on the same page … T

“I’m tired of saying the same thing every week. We’ve got to get this thing going right.”

On Saturday, the home side got things going right with a faked field goal executed to perfection. At the last second, holder Bo Levi Mitchell jumped up, took the snap and ran eight yards to give the Stamps a lead they would never relinquish.

“The players made the coach look pretty good there,” said Stamps head coach/general manager John Hufnagel.

In just his ninth professional start, Mitchell pulled off his eighth win in convincing fashion. Although far from perfect, Mitchell completed 26-of-36 passes for 289 yards, three touchdowns and one interception.

The pick came on a tipped ball that glanced off receiver Marquay McDaniel and into the hands of linebacker Jasper Simmons.

“Good team win,” Mitchell said. “I’m happy with where we are as an offence. I’m not satisfied with it, with myself. The guys expect me to finish better.

“Even in a good win, you have … to find things to get better on. If you start fast, you’ve got to finish strong.”

True enough, the Stampeders did leave points on the field — settling for three Rene Parades field goals. But they overcame adversity in the ground game — a common theme thus far for Calgary in the 2014 season.

With tailbacks Jon Cornish and Matt Walter already sidelined by concussion, Martell Mallett left the game in the second quarter with a groin injury. The multi-dimensional Jock Sanders was already playing with sore ribs, and he gutted it out to the end.

Fullback Rob Cote was the leading rusher for Calgary on the night with six carries for 32 yards (former Edmonton Eskimo Hugh Charles is expected to draw in next week against Hamilton.)

“They might put me at running back soon,” Mitchell quipped. “I don’t know. It’s tough. It’s game of injuries, and unfortunately, right now, all our injuries are coming from one position.”

With the running game muted, McDaniel exploited rookie linebacker Antoine Pruneau over the middle to the tune of nine catches for 117 yards and a touchdown.

Jeff Fuller and Jabari Arthur scored the other majors for Calgary. Wallace Miles replied with the only touchdown for Ottawa to go with a Brett Maher field goal.

Josh Bell and Jamar Wall both intercepted Burris, and the Stamps sacked the Ottawa quarterback four times.

At age 39, here’s betting Burris feels the after-effects of this one upon awakening Sunday morning.

“Hank really wants to beat us,” said defensive end Charleston Hughes, who collected his sixth sack in as many games. “And when he does, you know he’s going to be all in our face. You’ll hear him on Twitter.

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